Community Service Projects
Community service projects allow students to apply the lessons learned in the classroom to real-life situations and experiences. Below, you will find ideas for community service projects as well as a listing of events in your local area.
EPA links
Adopt Your WatershedGrades
6-8, Grades
9-12
epa.gov/adopt
Thousands of people are working to protect and restore their watersheds. As
of August 2000, this database contains 4,846 groups that students might want
to join.
epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/docs/comm-serv2.pdf
Linking Girls to the
Land Grades
6-8, Grades
9-12
epa.gov/linkinggirls/
This partnership between the Girl Scouts of America, US EPA
and other Federal Agencies promotes outdoor education, volunteering
and conservation education. It provides opportunities for 2.8 million
girls nationwide.
Service-Learning:
Education Beyond the Classroom (PDF) (32pp, 956K, About
PDF) Teachers
epa.gov/epaoswer/general/educate/svclearn.pdf
Need ideas for classroom activities or after-school programs? This on-line
booklet highlights environmental projects done by students throughout the country.
You'll find ideas for students of all ages!
Volunteer
for Change (EPA530-K-01-002)(PDF) (24pp, 567K About
PDF ) May 2001 Grades
6-8,Grades
9-12
epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/docs/vol4chng.pdf
This guide to environmental community service features the ABCs of volunteering
plus projects on reuse, recycling, composting, and household hazardous waste.
See also Environmental Protection Begins With You (EPA-530-K-06-001)(PDF) (24pp, 530K About
PDF ) July 2006
Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Teachers
epa.gov/volunteer/
Find out how to start a water monitoring program in your area. You'll find a
list of methods as well as links to national water monitoring sites.
External links
Agua Pura-An
Institute Planning for Latino Communities Grades
9-12
www.uwex.edu/erc/apsummary.html
Plans for implementing an Institute to provide support for youth leaders
who can involve youth in understanding local water quality issues and
local water protection. While designed for Latino communities, this
program is usable by any group. From University of Wisconsin Stevens
Point
Environmental Resources Center.
Backyard
Conservation Grades
K-5, Grades
6-8
www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/
See how conservation practices used on agricultural land to conserve
and improve natural resources can be adapted for use on the land around
your home.
Center
for Global Environmental Education Watershed Action Plan K-12
cgee.hamline.edu/watershed/action/projects/
The Watershed Action Site offers one stop help in planning and organizing
service-learning projects to prevent water pollution in your watershed.
Within this site you can access everything from scientific background
information or curricula to local experts or stencils for painting
storm drain signs.
EarthTeam Grades
6-8,Grades
9-12
Site about San Francisco bay area middle and high school students and their community environmental experiences that inspire dedication to a healthy environment. Could be translated to other communities. People from different areas can start up earthteams in their areas
Ecybermission Grades
6-8,Grades
9-12
www.ecybermission.com/index.cfm
eCYBERMISSION is a web-based science, math and technology competition
for 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade teams.
Educating Young People
About Water Grades
6-8
www.uwex.edu/erc/eypaw/
Want to educate kids about water? These free materials from University
of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Environmental Resources Center can provide
you with the information you need to get started.
EE Link
Local Organizations K-12
eelink.net/region-greatlakes.html
These pages are useful for students who want information on existing
environmental programs. Whether you are looking for specific local
or regional information, want to start an environmental project in
your own community, or are interested in learning more about the environment
through a program, this is the place for you.
Environmental Inquiry Grades
9-12
ei.cornell.edu/teacher
Developed by Cornell University to help students conduct environmental
science research and participate in communities of fellow student scientists.
Give Water a Hand Grades
9-12, Teachers
www.uwex.edu/erc/gwah/
A national watershed education program designed to involve young people
in local environmental service projects. Also available in Spanish.
Making
Connections for Environmental Education Grades
6-8
www.ncsu.edu/kenan/fellows/2001/cmoser/
Classroom tested indoor and outdoor environmental projects for middle
school students geared toward making meaningful connections between
their everyday activities and the environment.
National Apprentice Ecologist Awards Grades
9-12
Programs to involve youth in environmental service projects.
National Environmental Education
Week K-12
www.eeweek.org/involved
Whether you are a teacher in a public, private, or homeschool classroom, or an educator at a nature center, zoo, or aquarium, Environmental Education Week can help you to actively engage your students in environmental education.
Project WET: Plan a Make a Splash Festival Teachers
projectwet.org/usa/mas/planning.htm
How to organize a Make a Splash festival. This can be a classroom level festival or can be easily adapted to fit a larger or smaller audience.
Schoolyard
habitat
www.fws.gov/r5cbfo/schoolyd.htm
Interested in creating a wildlife habitat right on your school grounds?
The Fish and Wildlfe Survey shows you how.
Student Conservation Association Grades
9-12
www.thesca.org
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a nonprofit organization that offers conservation internships and summer trail crew opportunities. SCA is focused on developing conservation and community leaders while getting important work done on the land.
Teens for Planet
Earth Grades
6-8,Grades
9-12
teens4planetearth.com/teenshome
Check out this site to learn more about how YOU can protect this amazing planet. This site has facts about the natural world, the latest conservation news, and how teens can – and do – make a difference. by carrying out environmental service-learning projects in their communities.
What's Up with the
Environment Grades
9-12
www.thirteen.org/edonline/wue/
If you need a single lesson or a longer term project, visit this site for extensive
and multimedia background information and plans for projects about water,
land, air and energy. Students can explore environmental issues, formulate
and find answers to questions about the environment, and explore "Cool
Careers" for ideas about an environment-related job.
World Water Monitoring
Day Grades
9-12
www.worldwatermonitoringday.org
World Water Monitoring Day helps watershed leaders, educators and trained volunteers
to educate students and citizens how the actions of individuals in a watershed
can impact environmental quality and human health.